| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 8 of 30 in the 1983 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season | |||
| Date | May 1, 1983 | ||
| Location | Talladega International Motor Speedway (Talladega, Alabama) | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility 2.660 mi (4.280 km) |
||
| Distance | 500 laps, 500.1 mi (804.8 km) | ||
| Avg Speed | 153.936 miles per hour (247.736 km/h) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Cale Yarborough | Harry Ranier | |
| Most laps led | |||
| Driver | Richard Petty | Petty Enterprises | |
| Laps | 52 | ||
| Winner | |||
| 43 |
Richard Petty |
Petty Enterprises | |
| Television | |||
| Network | NBC | ||
| Announcers | Paul Page Gary Gerould Johnny Rutherford |
||
The 1983 Winston 500 was a NASCAR Winston Cup Series event that took place on May 1, 1983 at Talladega International Motor Speedway (now Talladega Superspeedway) in Talladega, Alabama, U.S.[1]
The television coverage of this race (on NBC) was more serious than today's broadcasts; telling people about the dangers of driving constantly at 185 miles per hour (298 km/h).[2] Using the crude technology that was invested into driver safety back then, drivers had plenty of courage to complete the entire race.[2] Only after Dale Earnhardt's death would NASCAR start to improve their safety standards; leading up to the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow.
Before the restrictor plates dramatically slowed down the cars, the restarts were considered to be fast and furious at what is now known as Talladega Superspeedway.[2] There were 42 American-born drivers on the grid, representing manufacturers including Pontiac, Buick, Chevrolet, and Ford. Cale Yarborough qualified for the pole position with a speed of 202.650 miles per hour (326.134 km/h). Richard Petty defeated Benny Parsons by two car lengths after three hours and fourteen minutes to earn his 197th career win.[1] Seven cautions for 42 laps were witnessed by 110,000 spectators in addition to 27 different lead changes.[1] The average speed of the race was 153.936 miles per hour (247.736 km/h).[1] There was a major incident involving Phil Parsons and ten other drivers.[3] Two photographers managed to get Parsons out of the wreck before the vehicle exploded.[4] The entire race purse was $361,820 ($797,604.54 in today's money).[5]
Dale Earnhardt was driving a Ford Thunderbird; an unexpected deviation from the Earnhardt family's Chevrolet heritage.[2] Lowell Cowell would retire from NASCAR after this race.
| Preceded by 1983 Virginia National Bank 500 |
NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season 1983 |
Succeeded by 1983 Marty Robbins 420 |